to think 10 year olds could play with other kids in the school hols, without a military plan

[Wotzsaname]

and without having to look at everyones diary and plan days in advance, then text and email!

I know we have busy lives, but what happend to the days when you could just knock on your mates door and ask if they could play?

Lots of kids on this estate. Ds2 was itching this morning to knock on his friend's door but I thought 8.00 am was a tad early

They've played out all day only coming in for meals, snacks and drinks.

estates are great for kids. Out they go, seeing who's about, taking a picnic to teh woods or park (in teh estate), taking bikes or badminton raquets.

I do realise how lucky we are, wotza

surger, dds were playing manhunt today with other kdis!

meant surfer

I don't let my kids play out on my estate but they have played out with friends on estate round the corner as it's nicer.

NuttyMuffins LOL at nicer estate round corner!

I let DS play out if I am in the front garden, gardening. The main problem AFAIAC is that 2yo DD wants to do it too. We live on a modern cul-de-sac in the centre of a small village.

yes estate sor army /raf bases are what i grew up on
i think a lot of poeple are snobby abotu estates adn tbh i woudlnt necc live her if i dint have kdis but its so sociable
so easy wiht neighbours ot haev kids if you need to pop anwyehre
baby sitters who can walk home in the middel of the night
its so QUIET you cant hear a penny drop most days - adn the kids can walk to school and hten tip out to our huge green over the road and walk home themselves if thye want to stay and play

I know, I am a snob, but my estate is a bit rough nowadays (bloke got stabbed in the block behind me last night).

Where i am though it is a cul de sac and there is a cut through to nice non council estate and so we pretend we are part of that and always walk that way to school, shops etc and have a few friends on there now too

pointydog - PLEASE say you're not talking about the computer game Manhunt??

Everybody just knocks here but this is Ireland!

they knock doors here, couldn't be faffed with anything else!

My ds1 (very shy) 10 years old, has now reached the age where his friends come calling for him and, more remarkably still given his shyness, he will go calling for them or phone their houses himself. I am thrilled as his shyness comes from me so I am now saved the agony of having to phone or call myself. He sees friends far more often now, though I admit, I find having friends round every day too much.

saved the agony of having to phone or call myself?
oih come one!!

Definitely! Why do you suppose I come on MN to chat? I do live in a populated area you know!

you are too s cared to speak?

yest you have had a job four kdis and a dh?
come on

I am not sure what your last post says cod.

I am not too scared to speak but I am very fearful of rejection. Even you are making me feel intimidated, damn you!

BTW, did you see the phobia programme last night? I watched entranced. Such a pity the therapy could not be used on me.

They all just knock on doors here and play outside (dead end, so no traffic) or on the green which is just behind us - or invade the gardens of anyone who's got a trampoline/climbing frame etc. And that's not just the 10 year olds but anything from the five year olds upwards. But then I can only think of one primary age child around here who's actually got a mobile phone, so texting probably isn't an option for them.

"pointydog - PLEASE say you're not talking about the computer game Manhunt??"

no. Don't even know what that is.

I'm talking fresh air, rosy cheeks, hiding and chasing, scraped knees, jumpers for goalposts...

Thankyou Pointydog, I'm so happy. Manhunt is the most vicious horrible computer game and I want it banned and its makers strung up...but that's another thread. Enjoy your rosy-cheeked girls! xx

Knocking happens here but usually they look out the window to see if anyone is out, and then out they go. For some reason they all congregate outside ours and the noise is horrendous 😂Then when the ice cream van arrives all hell breaks loose.